Civic Engagement

The most visible way to exercise power in a representative democracy is to run for office or to vote for a representative running for office. Our representatives are actively and directly involved in democracy because they create and vote on laws, policies, and other matters of government on our behalf. Yet, today, after generations of activists have fought and been killed to protect and expand the right to vote, voter access and turnout remain a challenge, particularly for marginalized communities. Political scientists have conclusively shown that the wealthier a person is, the more likely they are to vote. This pattern continues to have downstream effects on unequal representation in government – reinforcing patterns that favor public policy towards the wealthy, while Black and Brown communities become targets for misinformation and false promises.